What to Do in Spring!

Prune Spring flowering shrubs as they finish blooming.
Roses and fruit trees should be pruned by early March.
Spray fruit trees only if dormant. It may be too late if buds are showing colour.
To prepare for planting, spread compost/manure on flower and vegetable beds.
Fertilize evergreens and trees if growth is required or colour is poor, using a high nitrogen fertilizer.

Any hardy containerized plants can be planted.
Bare root planting season is until late March. Balled and burlapped tress are available now and can be planted until May.
Raspberries and strawberries are available during March for planting as inexpensive bare root plants.
Small fruits such as blueberries, grapes, kiwi, blackberry, etc. are ready now.
Summer bulbs are arriving now for planting. For example, lilies, montbretia, nerines, glads and a dahlia can be planted as the soil warms up.

Lime could be applied now and moss control when the weather is dry.
You can fertilize in March with a high N (nitrogen) product and continue on a 6 week schedule.
Aerate lawn if required to solve such issues as poor drainage and puddles.
New lawns can be seeded when soil warms up in late March. Prepare soil as soon as dry enough to work.

Divide and move plants by late March, if required. Trade your surplus plants at our 'Perennial Exchange' on March 20th.
A great selection of perennials is available now for planting.
Fertilize or mulch beds with compost to enrich the soil.
Watch that weeds do not get out of hand among the perennials. This seems to be the biggest problem growing perennials.

Seed catalogues are a good source for hard to get varieties if not available in store racks.
March is the time to plant most seeds if facilities are available.
Use the 6 week rule if not sure of seeding date. For example, plant seeds indoors 6 weeks before planting outdoors.
When planting seed, plan on enough room for the transplants to be grown on.
Cold frames will speed up growth of plants and harden tender plants.
Direct seeding can be done on the hardiest plants such as sweet peas.

You should not be planting most types of annuals outdoors until mid April!!
Do prep work now to beds. Spread compost, manure, etc. and work in lime and balanced fertilizer. This will pay great dividends later.
Only hardy annuals can be planted, such as pansies, snapdragons and English Daisies.
Come up with a plant to have some idea of your colour scheme and plant heights.
Selection of annuals is getting better every year. Try some of the new introductions such as Proven Winners.
Hanging baskets are popular, and could be planted later in March for a head start. Baskets will need lots of care as they mature.

In March, plant only hardy items such as brasicas types, lettuce or onions.
Feed rhubarb and mulch with organic compost.
Peas, leaf lettuce, radish, turnips and spinach can be seeded soon.
Plan your herb garden. Locate as a perennial bed.
Heat loving plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and melons, are set out in mid May.
If space is limited, plant only high value vegetables or those varieties that you prize. Have a plan of what you want from your garden.

Spring can be a very long season in our area.
Most of our flowering trees and shrubs are Spring flowering.
Expect a lot of colour to appear as this weather continues to warm up.
We can have a flower in the garden almost every month of the year! It just needs some careful planning and co-operation from Mother Nature.

Visit the nursery regularly as our selection is constantly changing.

March 2010.